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This single serving minestrone soup is hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. Filled with vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a comforting Italian classic perfectly sized for one.
Featured Comment
“I made this recipe last week for the first time and absolutely loved it!”
– Deepti
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly Portioned: This single serving minestrone soup gives you just the right amount.
- Easy to Customize: Use your favorite vegetables, beans, and broth to make it exactly how you like it.
- Nutritious and Satisfying: Packed with vegetables, beans, and pasta for a hearty, well-balanced meal.
- Full of Flavor: Bacon adds smoky richness, and a sprinkle of Parmesan takes it to the next level.
- Easily Doubled: Want more than one bowl? This recipe doubles perfectly.
What I love most about this minestrone soup is how flexible it is. I can open my fridge, see what I have, and know this recipe will work with almost anything. Sometimes I keep it simple with beans, pasta, and a few vegetables, and other times I’ll toss in extra greens or leftover chicken. No matter how I make it, it always feels warm, satisfying, and comforting – the kind of meal that makes use of what’s on hand and still feels special every time.
Looking for more single serving soup recipes? Try our creamy tomato soup for one, taco soup for one, black bean soup for one, and vegetable soup for one.
Ingredients
The great thing about Minestrone Soup is how flexible it is. This version is my go-to recipe for a flavorful, balanced meal, but you can easily adjust it based on what you have on hand. Skip the beans, use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, or add extra vegetables – it’s completely customizable.
Ingredients
- Bacon
- Chopped onions
- Garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- Canned beans (any variety)
- Diced tomatoes
- Mixed vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- Chicken broth
- Salt & pepper
- Small shaped pasta (such as elbow or ditalini)
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch minestrone soup recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
How To Make Minestrone Soup
- Cook the Bacon: In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add the chopped onions and garlic to the pot and cook until softened.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the beans, vegetables, diced tomatoes, cooked bacon, chicken broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the pasta and simmer until tender.
Expert Tips
- Make It Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and leave out the bacon.
- Cook Pasta Just Right: Simmer the pasta until al dente; it will continue to soften as the soup cools.
- Prep Ahead: If making the soup in advance, cook the pasta separately and stir it in before serving.
- Customize Freely: Mix and match ingredients based on what you have – any type of pasta, beans, or vegetables work well.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked chicken, ground beef, or even sausage for a heartier meal.
- Try Rice Instead: Use cooked rice instead of pasta if you prefer a different texture.
Serving Suggestions
Enhance your single serving minestrone soup with simple sides and toppings that complement its hearty flavors:
- Small Loaf of French Bread: Enjoy with a slice of warm, crusty bread to soak up every bit of broth.
- Grated Parmesan: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the top for extra flavor.
- Italian Chopped Salad: Serve alongside a crisp salad with a light vinaigrette for balance.
- Fresh Herbs: Add a sprinkle of basil or parsley for color and freshness.
- Red Wine: Pair with a glass of Italian red wine for a complete meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minestrone soup is a traditional Italian soup made with a mix of vegetables, beans, tomatoes, broth, and pasta or rice. It’s flexible and easy to adapt based on what you have on hand.
Yes. Simply skip the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a delicious vegetarian version.
Small pasta shapes like ditalini, elbow, or small shells (conchiglie) work best since they cook quickly and blend well with the other ingredients.
This single serving minestrone soup cooks in about 25–30 minutes from start to finish.
Mash a few of the beans directly in the pot or let the soup simmer a little longer to reduce the broth slightly.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
If you’ve tried this small batch of minestrone soup or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it.
Minestrone Soup For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 strips bacon
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ cup canned red beans -rinsed and drained
- ½ cup canned diced tomatoes
- ¾ cup frozen mixed vegetables or use a similar amount of fresh, chopped vegetables
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ cup dried small shaped pasta
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into ¼-inch pieces. In a medium pot over medium heat, cook until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same pot, add the chopped onion and cook for about 1 minute until slightly translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, beans, diced tomatoes, and mixed vegetables. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the chicken broth and return the cooked bacon to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the pasta and simmer until tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into a bowl and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Make It Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and leave out the bacon.
- Cook Pasta Just Right: Simmer the pasta until al dente; it will continue to soften as the soup cools.
- Prep Ahead: If making the soup in advance, cook the pasta separately and stir it in before serving.
- Customize Freely: Mix and match ingredients based on what you have — any type of pasta, beans, or vegetables work well.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked chicken, ground beef, or even sausage for a heartier meal.
- Try Rice Instead: Use cooked rice instead of pasta if you prefer a different texture.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Wonderful recipe! I added 1/4 tsp each of parsley and basil and one bay leaf to the pot and Orzo pasta. Went great with a grilled cheese sandwich on homemade bread. Quick and easy to make I’ll make chili in a few days to use up the leftover tomatoes and beans
So delicious and simple to make. One again, just a few ingredients delivered big flavor. A double batch made a filling meal for me and hubby with plenty of leftovers for the next day. Thanks Joanie.
I made this recipe last week for the first time and absolutely loved it! I’ve never made minestrone soup before (only had it in restaurants).I made mine vegetarian instead (used Smart bacon and Better than Bouillon Vegetarian) and it was so good! Thanks for the recipe! Looking forward to trying more recipes.
Hi,
I tried this minestrone soup and it was delicious! It made more than a single serving, so I will have enough for lunch tomorrow. I am over the moon to have found your recipes on line! I have to watch my weight but I don’t want diet food. So I really rely on the nutritional charts for each recipes. I would love it if you would put together a book for 1600 calories or less and include a dessert from time to time. The recipes you have compiled gives lots of varieties, choices and prevents food waste. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to get my own copy of your cookbook. I will be trying the clam chowder next🎉!
I doubled the recipe so we will have a leftover for a couple of lunches. Next time I’ll decrease the pasta. I added a couple shakes of italian seasoning. Because hot soup is too hot for use to eat when it’s first cooked, I added 2 ice cubes to cool it down a bit. Topped it with fresh grated parm cheese. Very good. So glad I found this site. I use it often.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you very much for this site! It’s lockdown gold for a single person who also doesn’t really know how to cook. 😉
We’re so glad you are enjoying the recipes, Lauren!
For medical reasons I do not eat beef or pork, how about recipes with out bacon?
Hi Marjorie,
We have many meatless recipes here. You might be interested in browsing through our “meatless meals” article – https://onedishkitchen.com/single-serving-meatless-recipes/. Also feel free to leave out the bacon in this minestrone recipe – you won’t even miss it.
Joanie